Pictured: Monty Don makes his first public appearance following stroke and insists he 'will make a full recovery'

Monday 26 May 2008 13:54 BST

Now that he has time to stop and smell the flowers, rather than just talk about them, Monty Don says he is feeling much better.

The television gardener and writer told an audience yesterday he is doing "fine" after suffering a stroke six weeks ago.

He says stepping down from his role on the BBC's Gardener's World, with its 12-hour days, had made a huge difference to his recovery.

Despite his decision to take it easy, the father of three kept an appointment at a literary festival yesterday for a discussion about organic food production. Don, 52, was greeted with applause as he walked on stage in Hay-on-Wye, Powys.

Nurturing his health: Monty Don at the Hay Festival yesterday

Nurturing his health: Monty Don at the Hay Festival yesterdayIt was the first time he had spoken about his illness since the news broke last week, when he announced he was leaving the programme.

Asked about his health, Don replied: "I am fine, actually, I am fine. I can't do regular. . . you know what telly is like with 12-hour days. I am very happy to have taken the burden off me.

"I intend to make a full recovery and then do what I can when I can. I am pottering around nicely and everyone says I look better."

The gardener, who lives with his family outside Leominster, Herefordshire, was the resident horticulturist on the ITV1 daytime show This Morning before joining Gardener's World five years ago.

He has presented a succession of other gardening programmes, most recently BBC2's Around the World in 80 Gardens, which aired earlier this year.

Don apparently suffered the stroke during a break in filming Gardener's World, and did not blame the incident on the working hours.

Once he recovers fully, he will have plenty to keep him occupied.

Don's co-panelist Patrick Holden, director of the Soil Association, announced that the gardener would become the organisation's new president in the autumn.

He will also continue to write a gardening column for the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine.

During his appearance, Don told the festival audience that everyone had a responsibility to grow their own food.

He urged the country to become more self-sufficient in food production and consumption, rather than relying on international trade - even if that was at a cost to the Third World.

He said: "Everyone should be growing something edible, even if you have to do it in a pot on a window sill and it's one basil plant.

"You are part of the process - the minute you do that you take responsibility."

This is the 21st annual Hay Festival. The town, which has a population of just 1,300, has 39 bookshops and attracts more than 90,000 visitors to what has become the world's largest literary and cultural festival.

Key speakers this year include former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, Salman Rushdie, Cherie Blair and Jamie Oliver.